Valley Forge Park celebrates George Washington's birthday (video)

George Washington re-enactor John Lopes uses his sword to cut his birthday cake during a Presidents Day celebration at the Visitor’s Center in Valley Forge National Historical Park on Monday, Feb. 17, 2013. The birthday cake is a recipe from Martha Washington. Children were treated to cupcakes after everyone sang happy birthday to the first president. (Photo by Gene Walsh/Times Herald)

UPPER MERION — A few days shy of his 281st birthday, Gen. George Washington unsheathed his ceremonial sword and cut the birthday cake made for him by his wife, Martha, in front of hundreds of cheering onlookers Monday at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

“It is indeed moving beyond words. I cannot express how grateful I am to see such a wonderful group of people here today,” the future president told the crowd. “I just want to thank you all so much for being here today.”

The event, part of the park’s Presidents Day weekend of events that included the 101st Annual Boy Scouts of America Pilgrimage and Encampment and historical re-enactments at the park’s Muhlenberg Brigade area, also marked the 235th anniversary of what is believed to be the first public celebration of Washington’s birthday, which Martha Washington staged while her husband and his troops were camped out at Valley Forge.

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Along with opportunities to dress in Colonial garb to take photos with General Washington and several of his officers, children in attendance were able to “enlist” in the Continental Army, where they could learn marching and maneuvering techniques based on the training concocted by Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben and utilized at Valley Forge. The youngsters could also do various crafts, including writing birthday cards for Gen. Washington, making tri-cornered hats out of construction paper, and weaving on a cardboard loom.

The birthday celebration, which has become an annual event for the park, was organized by park staff in conjunction with the Encampment Store, the Friends of Valley Forge and the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, according to Rhonda Schier, the chief of interpretation and education for the park.

“(The groups) all work together for several months to set up the activities, invite the guest presenters, get the refreshments ready, which is the birthday cake, and get historical re-enactors in position to lead the kids’ muster. It’s a real team effort to celebrate Washington’s birthday,” Schier said.

According to Schier, this year’s crowd was larger than usual, which she credited to the generally pleasant weather Monday afternoon, which enabled visitors to explore other areas in the park in addition to attending the festivities.

“It seems to grow in popularity every year,” she said. “We are attracting a lot of our neighbors this year. The beautiful weather always helps to bring the visitors and the neighbors to this event. They get to spend some time outdoors in a national park.”

In addition to celebrating the birthday of the park’s most famous alumnus, the festivities also helped make the public aware of the park and events that are held there.

“This is a way that we’re sort of honoring the birthday party that Martha held for George when turned 46 in February of 1778, and so it’s a very significant commemoration of the birthday celebration that was held here then,” Schier said. “It brings visitors a really fun opportunity to experience their neighborhood national park.”